I dread the favage coaft, and every place "Where dwells the bloody or the barbarous race. "No peace by day, no fleep at night I take, 811 Since thefe brave chiefs affembled for my fake. "With cold indifference may't thou now look down, "For no man's fafety anxious but thy own; "But 1, the leaft folicitous for mine,

"Feel for this friend's, that comiade's, and for "thine.

820

"Mach fhall I feel for all this martial band, "Unless they fafe regain their native land." Thus fpoke the prince, his gallant host to try: With animating founds they rend the sky. The loud acclaim was grateful to his cars, And thus he boldly hails his brave compeers: "Your valour, friends, encourages my foul: "And fince no fears your gallant hearts controul, Boldly will I each coward thought repel, Though doom'd to enter the abyss of hell. "For thefe rocks paft, no dangers can difmay, "If we the counfel of the feer obey."

831

The Greeks applauding what their leader fpoke, Ply their flout oars, and bend to every stroke; And first by Rhebas rapid stream they fly, And where Colona's rocks invade the sky, And where the black-brow'd promontory low'rs, And where lov'd Phillis his broad current pours. There Dipfacus receiv'd, in days of yore, Young Phryxus landing on his friendly shore, When, exil'd from Orchomenos, he swam On the broad shoulders of the gold-fleec'd ram. For to that ftream a nymph of rural race Bore Dipfacus, who, fearful of difgrace, Dwelt with his mother, and along the mead Chofe, near his father's stream, his fleecy flocks to feed.

840

The chiefs foon pafs'd his celebrated fane,
The river Calpis, and th' extended plain;
And all the night, along the tranquil tide,
And all the day their oars inceffant ply'd.
As when laborious fteers, inur'd to toil,
With the bright plough-fhare turn the ftubborn
foil,

Sweat from their fides diftils in foamy smoke;
Their eyes obliquely roll beneath the yoke, 850
Their fcorching breath heaves quick with panting
found,

While all day long they tread the weary ground:
So toil'd the Greeks; nor yet the morning light
Had pafs'd the doubtful confines of the night,
But, faintly glimmering on this earthly ball,
Produc'd what mortals morning-twilight call.
To Thynia's neighbouring ifle their courfe they
bore,

And fafely landed on the defert fhore,
When bright Apollo fhow'd his radiant face,
From Lycia haftening to the Scythian race, 860
His golden locks, that flow'd with grace divine,
Hung clustering like the branches of the vine:
In his left hand his bow unbent he bore,
His quiver pendent at his back he wore :
The confcious inland trembled as he trod,
And the big rolling waves confefs'd the god.
Nor dar'd the heroes, feiz'd with dire dilmay,
The fplendours of his countenance furvey,

But on the ground their downward eyes they caft:

870

Meanwhile Apollo o'er the watery waste, And through thin ether on his journey flew. Then thus fpoke Orpheus to the martial crew: "Let us, my honour'd chiefs, with joint acclaim "This inland facred to bright Phoebus name, "Who early here to all this hoft appear'd; "Here let an altar on the fhore be rear'd, "And paid the rites divine: and if he deign "That fafe we reach our native land again, Young horned goats fhall on his altars bleed, "And the choice thighs to Phœbus be decreed. "Now, comrades, due libations let us pay : 881 "Be gracious, O be gracious, god of day!"

Thus he and fome the ftony altar raife,
And fome explore the foreft's devious maze;
Haply within its lone retreats to find
A kid wild wandering, or a bounding hind:
Latona's fon foon led them to the prey;
Then on the altar, blazing bright, they lay
The choiceft parts involv'd in facred smoke,
And fair Apollo, early god, invoke.
Around the flame in fprightly dance they spring,
And lö Pæan, lö Pæan fing.

Then on the Thracian harp Oeager's fon
In foothing ftrains his tuneful tale begun :

89€

How once beneath Parnaffus' rocky brow
He launch'd an arrow from his deadly bow,
And the fell ferpent flew; though young and
fair,

And beardlefs yet, but grac'd with golden hair:
O prove propitious, thou whose radiant head
Is deck'd with curls unclip'd, that never fhed, 900
Worthy thyself! (Latona only knows.
With niceft art thofe ringlets to difpofe)
Corycian nymphs their joys in rapture fhow'd,
And Jö, lö Pean call'd aloud:

Encomium grateful to the god of day.
Thus having prais'd him in the folemn lay,
They fwear devourly, due libations made,
To league for ever, and lend mutual aid;
Then touch the hallow'd altar with their hands
Concordant; and ev'n now a temple ftands gro
Sacred to Concord, by the Grecians rais'd,
When here that mighty deity they prais'd

919

Now the third morn began on earth to fmile, When with fresh gales they left the lofty isle. The foaming Sangar at a distance feen, Ihe Mariandine mead for ever green, And Lycus' winding waters they forlake All on the right, and Anthemoifia's lake, So faft before the wind the veffel went, Crack'd was the cordage, and the canvafs rent: But the gale ceafing with the dawning day, Joyful they reach the Acherufian bay, Begirt with rocks fo towering tall and steep, The frown tremendous on Bithynia's deep; And yet fo firmly founded in the main, The raging billows round them roar in vain : Above, upon the promontory's brow, Umbrageous planes in beauteous order grow. Thence, downward, through a deep and dreary 930

dell,

Defcends the path-way to the cave of hell,

940

948

The pleafing power of filence never refts. From Lollow caverns through the leafy boughs, Above, the whiftling wind for ever blows; And while mad billows lafh the founding fhores, Below, the raging main for ever roars. There, burfting from the promontory's fides, Sad Acheron along the valley glides; Deep-hollow'd beds his turbid ftreams convey, As eaft ward to the main he winds his way. This table flood, in ancient story fam'd, The Megarenfians Soönautes nam'd In after ages, when their course they bore By ocean to the Mariandine fhore: For when the deep in deathful billows heav'd, This peaceful port their fhatter'd fhips receiv'd. To this the labouring Grecians bent their way, Row'd round the cape, and anchor'd in the bay. When Lycus and his Mariandine hoft, Lycus, the mighty monarch of the coaft, Knew thefe brave Greeks who Amycus had flain, They welcom'd Jafon and his conquering train: But most on Pollux fix'd their wondering eyes, And view'd him as a hero from the skies: For long the fierce Bebrycian's rude alarms Had rous'd the Mariandyni to arms. That day, the Grecian band with one confent To the king's hofpitable palace went: Cheerful they there on choiceft dainties din'd, And there with converfe fweet regal'd the mind. Then Jafon to the king recounts the name And race of all thefe chofen fons of fame, Who lent their aid at Pelias' dire command; Their ftrange adventures on the Lemnian land; What griefs, what woes at Cyzicus they bore; And how they landed on the Myfian fhore, Where Hercules, diftrefs'd his friend to find, They left at land, unwillingly behind. What Glaucus fpoke prophetic from the main, How with his fubjects Amycus was flain, The prince relates: what Phineus poor and old, Worn out with fufferings to the chiefs foretold; How through Cyanean rocks they fafely steer'd, And in what ifle the god of day appear'd. The king rejoic'd his guefts fo well had fped. But griev'd that Hercules was left, and faid: 980 Thick how, my friends, this hero's aid deny'd, Rafhly ye tempt a length of feas untry'd. Full well I knew that valiant fon of fame, When here on foot through Lydia's coaft he

came

(For ere my hofpitable father dwelt) To fetch Hippolita's embroider'd helt. The hero found me then a beardless swain, Mourning my brother by the Myfians flain; (The nation dearly lov'd the blooming chief, And fill lament in elegies of grief)

960

970

990

* Then at the funeral games he prov'd his might, And vanquish'd Titias in the gauntlet-fight

Though young and ftout, and eager for the fray, From his bruis'd jaws he dafh'd the teeth away, 'The Myfian country, and the Phrygian plains, 'The conqueror added to my fire's domains; And the rude nations that Bithynia till, To foaming Rhebas and Colona's hill; 'And Paphlagonia to its utmost bounds, 'Which fable Billis with his waves furrounds. But now proud Amycus, and all his hoft, Ico Since Hercules has left the neighbouring coast, 'Have spoil'd my realms, and spread their hoftile bands

'Wide as where Hipias' ftreams enrich the lands. At length their lawless infolence they rue, And by your hands have fuffer'd vengeance due. And fure fome god afforded his relief When Pollux flew that proud Bebrycian chief. 'I for this deed my due regard will fhow; ''Tis what the meaneft to the mighty owe. My fon, your comrade, fhall at my command Attend o'er diftant feas your gallant band: 'O'er diftant feas, with Dafcylus your guide, You ftill with faithful friends fhall be fup'ply'd,

ΠΟΙΟ

Far as Thermodon rolls his foaming tide. Meanwhile on yon bold cape that mates the

'To Leda's fons a facred fane fhall rife,
'Admir'd by all that crefs the boundless main,
For all fhall venerate the facred fane :
To them will 1, as to the powers divine,
Some fruitful acres near the town affign.'
Converfing thus, the genial feast they fhare,
And to the fhip at early day repair:
With his brave fon the friendly Lycus went,
Who ftore of viands to the fhip had fent.

1030

'Twas here the cruel deftinies decreed That Idmon, fan'd for augury, fhould bleed: The fate of others he had oft forefhown, But fail'd, unhappy! to prevent his own. Here, in a covert near the reedy flood, A fell wild boar lay deep inimers'd in mud. With horrid tufks fo dreadful he appear'd, The fountain-nymphs the favage monfter fear'd: No living wight in miry marth or moor E'er faw fo fierce, fo horrible a boar. On the lake's verge as lucklefs Idmon flood, From his clofe covert, in the reedy mud, Up fprung the furious beaft with might and main, Tore the chief's thigh, and fnapp'd the bone in

twain;

He groans, he falls, and on the bank he lies, 1C40
His griev'd companions anfwer to his cries;
When Peleus inftantly approaching near,
Launch'd at the boar his unavailing fpear:
But Idas aim'd his pointed dart fo well,
Low in the marfh the dying monster fell.
The chiefs with Idmon to the ship retir'd,
Who deeply groaning in their arms expir'd.
Immers'd in grief, they now neglect to fail;
For three whole days their comrade they bewail;
But on the fourth, with penfive forrow, paid 1050
The laft fad honours due to Idmon's fhade.
The king, the people join'd the mournful crew,
And, loud lamenting, numerous victims flew:

They dug the grave, and on the greenfward raise
A tomb on which pofterity will gaze :
For near the tomb a tall wild olive grows,
Beneath the cape, and beautifully blows.
Me would the nine commiffion to unfold

This truth, which Phœbus had long fince foretold,

This, this is he, the tutelary lord,

Henceforth to be by mighty ftates ador'd:
For here Baotians and Megarians join'd,
Near the wild olive wavering in the wind,
To build a city; though due honours they
To Agameftor, not to Idmon, pay.

1060

1079

Who fell befide? for, lo! the chiefs intend Another tomb for fome lamented friend. Ev'n now two mournful monuments appear: Tiphys, fame fays, was stretch'd upon the bier. Him cruel fate ordain'd no more to roam; 1070 He died far diftant from his native home. For while to Idmon funeral rites they pay, Untimely fickness fnatch'd the chief away. Then heart-felt fadness feiz'd the penfive train, Who, proftrate on the margin of the main, Forgetful of their neceffary food, Mourn'd in fad filence to the roaring flood. For they, now skilful Tiphys is no more, Despair'd returning to their native fhore; And here had ftaid, with bitter grief opprefs'd, Had not Saturnia in Ancæus' breast Breath'd courage: him Aftypalea bore, Near winding Imbrafus on Samos' fhore, To ocean's god; a chief expert to guide The flying veffel o'er the foaming tide. Then thus to Peleus, Neptune's valiant son, By heaven infpir'd, in cheering terms begun : Ill fuits the brave in foreign climes to itay, And wafte, O Peleus, precious time away. I left not Samos lefs for failing skill'd 'Than fierce contention, in the fighting field. For Argo cherish not one abject fear,

'Since

1090

many fkill'd, befides myfelf, are here. And he, to whom the steerage we ordain, Will fafely guide the veffel o'er the main. ''Tis then to ftimulate the fainting crew With ready oars their voyage to purfue.' He spoke, and tranfport touch'd the Phthian's breast,

Inftant he rofe, and thus the host addrefs'd: 110 "Why are we here by fruitlefs grief detain'd? Two friends are dead, and this the fates or"dain'd; !

Yet many pilots in this host remain, "To fteer firm Argo o'er the watery plain, "To forrows unavailing bid adieu! "Let us bold peers, our deftin'd courfe purfue." He laid, and Jalon anxious thus reply'd; Where are thofe pilots, fay, our courfe to guide? For those whom late we boafted as the best And ableft chiefs, are most with grief oppref'd, 'I therefore deem a like fad fate attends On us, as on our late departed friends, 'If neither in Æeta's ports we moor, Nor through thofe rocks regain our native shore. 'but here inactive and inglorious stay, Years following years, and linger life away.'

He fpoke; Ancæus feiz'd the fleerage, driv'n
By power instinctive from the queen of heav'n.
Erginus next the glorious charge defir'd;
Euphemus, Nauplius to the helm afpir'd.
But these the congregated chiefs declin'd,
And bold, Ancæus to the poft affign'd.

1120

With the twelfth rifing morn the heroes fail; Favonius breath'd a favourable gale; And foon they leave fad Acheron behind, Then give the swelling canvass to the wind: On the smooth sea the fhip ferenely rides, And light along the liquid level guides.

Ere long with stretching fails the coaft they gain,

Where broad Callichorus augments the main.
To Thebes returning from his Indian fights, 1130
Here Bacchus folemniz'd mysterious rites,
The dance before the facred cave ordain'd,
And here full many a doleful night remain'd.
This name the country to the river gave,
Callichorus; and Aulion to the cave.

Still as their courfe the daring Greeks pursue,
The monument of Sthenelus they view.
With honours grac'd, obtain'd in realms afar,
Returning from the Amazonian war,
On the bleak fhore (Alcides at his fide)
Pierc'd by a fatal dart the hero died
Slow fail'd they on, for, eager to survey
His kindred warriors on the watery way,

1140

Then foon it funk beneath the shades of night.
In mute amazement ftood the Grecian hoft
But Moplus counsel'd to appease the ghost
With offerings due; the chiefs approach the
ftrand,

And round the tomb of Sthenelus they stand.
They pour libations, and the victims flay,
And on the fire the deftin'd offerings lay.
Apart, to guardian Phoebus next they raise
An altar meet, and bid the victims blaze.
Here Orpheus plac'd his lyfe for mufic fam'd;
Apollo's altar hence was Lyra nam'd.

1159

And now, invited by the favouring gales, They climb the fhip and fpread their fwelling fails; . '

Swift o'er the deep the winged veffel flies,
Swift as the rapid hawk that cleaves the ikies,
And lightly through the liquid ether fprings,
Nor moves, felf-poiz'd, his wide expanded wings,
Thence by Parthenius fail'd the focial train,
The gentleft stream that mingles with the main.
Fatigued with traverfing the mazy grove, 1170
Here, ere the re-afcends the courts of Jove,
The chafte,Diana, huntrefs of the wood,
Bathes her fair limbs, and gambols in the flood.
Then during night by Sefamus they fail,
And Erythinus rifing o'er the vale;
By Cromna and Crobrialus, and where
Thy grove, Cytorus, ever green appear.

But when he rung a cymbal with his fpear; 'The clanging cymbal till'd the birds with fear: In wild confufion far away they fly,

And with fhrill clamours pierce the diftant fky.
'Tis ours to practife this expulfive art;
But hear ye first the counsel I impart :
Let half our crew in glittering armour drefs'd,
Nod, as by turns they row the high-plum'd creft;
The reft bright spears and fwords and fields
' provide,
1310
And meet difpofe them round the vessel's fide,
Then all at once your voices raise on high,
And with loud pealing fhouts affail the sky;
The deafening clamours, the protended spears,
And nodding crefts will fill the birds with fears.
And when Areria's barren ifle ye gain,

Ring your broad bucklers, and all thout amain.' He fpoke, the chiefs approy'd the wife defign; High on their heads the brazen helmets fhine, Whole purple crests wav'd dreadful in the wind; To thele alternate were flout oars aflign'd; 1321 The reft with care their veffel's fide conceal'd With glittering fpears, and many a fhining shield. As when induftrious builders cover o'er

1330

With tiles the walls their hands had rais'd before;
In chequer'd fquares they decorate the roof,
And make it fair to view, and tempeft proof:
Thus they with fhields difpos'd in order due,
Shelter'd their veffel, and adorn'd it too.
As when embattled hotts their foes affail,
Tumultuous fhouts, and martial founds prevail;
So from the fhip loud clamours pierc'd the sky;
No more the Greeks their feather'd foes delcry:
Kattling their bucklers, near the land they drew,
And far away the winged furies flew.

So when great Jove on clofe-throng'd cities pours
From hyperborean clouds his haily showers;
Within, the dwellers fit in peace profound,
Nor heed the rattling forms that rage around;
In vain the hail defcends, the tempefts roar, 1340
Their roofs from harm were well fecur'd before :
Thus on their fhields the furies fhot their quills,
Then clamouring vanish'd to far diftant hills.
Say, Mufe, why Phineus counfel'd here to land,
On Mars's ifle, this delegated band?
And what advantage could the Grecians gain
From all the toils and perils of the main ?

To fam'd Orchomenos, with favourite gale,
From Ha's walls the fons of Phrixus fail,
Their grandfire's vaft inheritance to share, 1350
Who dying left this voyage to their care.
Near Mar's ifland on this fignal day
The fons of Phrixus plow'd the liquid way.
But Jove ordain'd that Boreas blafts fhould blow,
While moift Arcturus foak'd the vales below.
First on the mountains, rifing by degrees,
All day rough Boreas fhook the trembling trees;
Then, night approaching, he with hideous found
Roll'd the big waves, and heav'd the vatt profound.
No ftars appear translucent through the clouds,
at gloomy darkness every object throuds. 1361
The ton of Phrixus, toft by whelming waves,
With horror fhudder'd at the watery graves;
For the fierce blaft, impell'd with might and main,
Tore all their canvas, fplit the ship in twain

And dafh'd to pieces; but by heaven's kind aid
On a large fragment of the wreck convey'd,
The winds and waves the trembling brothers bore
Aghaft, and half expiring to the thore.
Intrant in floods defcended copious rain,
Drench'd the whole island, and increas'd the main ;
(Thefe fhores, the neighbouring coaft, and facred
hill,

1370

The rude, the barbarous Mossynœcians till)
Borne on a broken plank, the forceful blast
The fons of Phrixus on this ifland caft,
Who met the Grecians with the rifing fun;
Ceas'd was the rain, and Argus thus begun :
Adjur'd by Jove, whofe circumfpeclive ken
Surveys the conduct and the cares of men,
'Whate'er your name or race, our tale attend,
And to the wretched your affiftance lend. 1381
The raging ftorms that Neptune's empire fweep,
Have wreck'd our lucklefs veffel in the deep;
To you we pray, if pity touch your heart,
Some fcanty raiment for our wants impart;
The fons of mifery for mercy call;